New pastor for Cavan Baptist Church

Cavan Baptist Church has welcomed Dr. Ivan Watson as their new pastor. Members of the church were joined by friends from the local community, as well as many visitors from across Ireland for the induction service. The sunny afternoon helped to provide a really warm Cavan welcome for the visitors who also included a party from Dr. Watson"s previous church near Luton. The proceedings were chaired by the church secretary Mr. Gerry Lynch. The formal act of induction was carried out by retired Pastor Jim Smyth who recalled his contact with the Watson family from many years ago in the Omagh area. Ivan and his wife Carol and their children Peter (eleven) Daniel (nine) and Anna (six) were then officially welcomed to the church by the chairman of the church deacons, Mr. Joe Wedlock. Ivan expressed his thanks to those who had travelled to be present on this special occasion. The congregation were then treated to two Bible talks. The first was given by Pastor Stephen Curry, a friend of Ivan and Carol"s from Bangor, Co. Down, and the second was brought by John Samuel who is pastor of Grosvenor Road Baptist Church in Dublin. The service concluded with greetings being brought by a number of visitors including the former pastor of the Cavan church, Ian Grant, and the current President of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, Pastor Stephen Murphy from Dundalk. Everyone then enjoyed a delicious tea served by the Cavan church members. Dr. Watson has come to Cavan after spending eleven years in England where he was engaged in theological training and local church ministry. Prior to this, both Ivan and his wife Carol trained as medical doctors in Belfast before working in various hospitals and General Practices in the north of Ireland. One of the things that led Ivan to pursue theological training was the large number of people with spiritual related problems who came to see him in his GP consulting room. Ivan believes that the Christian message has got real relevance to the problems of everyday modern life. Although Ivan and Carol were sorry to leave the church they was serving in England, they are glad to be back in Ireland and are excited by the prospect of serving in the Cavan area. The Cavan church is only 15 years old and has a vibrant, committed membership from many different backgrounds who are seeking to serve the local community. Ivan and Carol and their family are looking forward to getting involved together in the local community. If anyone would like to get in contact with them for counselling or spiritual help they can be contacted on 086-7908991. The main services take place every Sunday morning at 11am and on the first Sunday evening of each month at 7.30pm in their church building at Corglass, Oldtown, on the edge of Cavan town.